Most recent public comments by Student Nandi Sulamoyo https://nowcomment.com/users/88589 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300864 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300864 A possible theme for the story could be the importance of maintaining relationships with the people that we care about. Throughout the story, Georgiana seems like a mother figure in Clark's life, who gave him the greatest gift of all -- music. Even though it had been years since Clark saw his aunt, he was still able to have a connection with her. He referred to Georgiana as his "kinswoman," which represented their strong relationship. Their bond with each through music, is what allowed Georgiana to realize where her home truly was. Not only was this significant for her, but it also allowed Clark to actually understand his aunt. Both of them truly cared for one another, which is something that the audience can see, throughout the story. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:24:02 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300848 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300848 A possible theme for this story could be the long-term effects that a miserable situation can have on a person. Georgiana's life on the prairie was affecting her both physically and mentally. She had become so different, that she seemed like a stranger to Clark. She was in a long-term situation that gave her no satisfaction. She was unable to enjoy her life without music, since it was a part of her soul. Her physical features represented how she felt internally. Clark described her as "not unlike one of those charred, smoked bodies that firemen lift from the debris of a burned building." This is a clear picture of how Georgiana was, as a result of her life on the prairie. The misery had consumed her, and it was not until she had attended the concert, that she felt alive and at home again. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:00:44 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300823 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300823 A possible theme for this story could be the realization that "home is where the heart is." Although Georgiana seemed out of place at the concert, it was where she felt the most at home. She had found comfort that she had never felt living on the prairie. Even when the concert was over, Georgiana did not want to leave. The text stated, "She burst into tears and sobbed pleadingly, 'I don't want to go, Clark, I don't want to go!'" (Cather 25). This experience made it harder for Georgiana to return to the homestead. The homestead was not much of a home. It became clear that the concert hall, and music in general, gave her sense of warmth that she could not receive anywhere else. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 20:01:09 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300795 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300795 Music is what connected Clark to his aunt. From his point of view, the audience is able to see the impact that music had on both of their lives. This becomes clear when the most notable memories of the two, have to deal with music. For Georgiana, music represented a life that she had longed for, but never received. This is why she specifically told Clark to not get too attached to the music by explaining "it may be taken from you." She continued on and said, "Oh! dear boy, pray that whatever your sacrifice be it is not that." Clark's recollection of this exact moment reveals the significance that music had on Georgiana's life, and how its loss was even greater. This point of view is what created the central meaning that depicted the impacts that loss and regret can have on people's lives. This impact can be felt when Clark recognizes the deep pain that his aunt was experiencing during the concert. Music was not just a past time for Georgiana, it was a part of herself that she had given up. The impacts of loss and regret is something that the audience can pick up throughout the whole story. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 19:25:24 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300747 https://nowcomment.com/documents/251841?scroll_to=2300747 The color black is most often tied to negative emotions and feelings, such as darkness, mystery, or a void state. When Clark saw Georgiana, she was "black with soot" and had a "black bonnet gray with dust." This was a metaphorical statement that conveyed the darkness that had consumed Georgiana, to the point that she was not even recognizable to her own nephew. The author also described Georgiana during the matinee by saying, "...through her fingers worked mechanically upon her black dress..." Once again, the author is using the color black to represent Georgiana's being. Her life on the homestead had affected her internally, as well as externally. She was void and out of place. This metaphorical comparison is how Cather was able to portray Clark's point of view, when it came to his aunt. Through his accounts, the audience is able to see the effects that living on the prairie had on his aunt, in comparison to the city life that he lived in Boston. Thu, 28 Jan 2021 18:49:54 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2168380 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2168380 I definitely agree with your response. This sentence represents the Romantic ideals of individualism and self-reliance. Thoreau was saying that the American government could easily be corrupted by some of the leaders. Thoreau criticized the government, and wanted the people to make decisions, not the corrupt leaders. As time went on, the government continued to lose its moral soundness. He believed that the individuals would restore the country's morality. The individuals are what make everything whole. When each person is able to rely on themselves, it benefits the society. Thoreau did not want to completely get rid of the government, he wanted to improve it. This is why he stressed the importance of change through the individuals. This is something that we see today. A lot of people have been encouraging individuals to stand up and get their voices heard. We have to rely on ourselves, if we want to see change in this country. We cannot sit back, and believe that things will change on their own. There are certain things that we (the individuals) have to act upon, if we want the situation to improve. This is why it is so important for people to get involved, even if it seems insignificant. We cannot rely on other people to serve our best interests, especially if they are not even willing to listen. All of this ties into Thoreau's ideas of the minority, and their importance in the government. Tue, 27 Oct 2020 13:40:14 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153876 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153876 In this statement, Thoreau was encouraging people to make a sacrifice for what they believed in. He was justifying his decision for going to prison. He believed that people who experienced injustice, would have a better chance at fighting injustice. If the people truly wanted equality and fairness, they would have to go to extreme lengths. Justice does not come easily. He wanted people to hold the government accountable. Thoreau believed that if one person wasn’t free, then nobody was free. This all-encompassing view of life is something that we see when people say, “all lives can’t matter until Black lives matter.” We have to take action if we want change. This could be by voting, protesting, petitioning, or some other platform where your voice can be heard. We also have to be willing to make sacrifices, in order to receive justice. When the government is wrong, we have to stand against it, and correct these wrongs. We cannot keep going through a vicious cycle of oppression. There may be a small price to pay for honesty and dissent, but in the end, it should be worth it. Sun, 13 Dec 2020 16:45:51 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153792 https://nowcomment.com/documents/236829?scroll_to=2153792 This sentence represents Romantic ideals. According to Thoreau, minority groups have to separate themselves from the majority, otherwise they will be left "powerless." Thoreau criticizes conformity in society, and stresses the importance of self-reliance. The message of dissent against the government illuminates the non-conformist aspects of the Romantic Era. Thoreau viewed the government as an oppressive piece of machinery, where majority rule trumps all else. This vulnerability is something that we see today in minority groups. Groups such as the LGBTQ+ community, non-white people, disabled people, women, and others have been marginalized because they are not the majority. However, if these groups conformed and followed the majority, their voices would not be heard. We all want to be represented in our government. It's important that we do not have other people speaking for us, when they don't even know our situation. Relying on the majority will leave us weak, helpless, and silenced. Thoreau's beliefs of self-reliance and non-conformity are ideals that we should abide by, if we want our opinions to be heard by the government. Thu, 22 Oct 2020 08:38:40 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2050224 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2050224 I agree. The use of the word "invisible" reminds the reader that just because you cannot see them, does not mean that their spirit or presence is not with you. This is probably something that the governor did not consider. Wed, 16 Sep 2020 08:53:08 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2050151 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2050151 I definitely agree. The use of the word "sacred" has a lot more depth. It also adds a more spiritual meaning to how they feel about the land. This amplifies the importance of the land. Wed, 16 Sep 2020 08:42:33 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2050082 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2050082 This is an interesting use of the word "conscious" because it is personifying their feet. He's basically saying that their feet are aware and knowledgeable of the land. This emphasizes the overall point that they know land. The land is a part of them and their culture. Fri, 18 Sep 2020 05:14:20 -1000 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2049993 https://nowcomment.com/documents/225811?scroll_to=2049993 He used the word "rich" to describe the land. In this context, the word "rich" really captures the deep and strong meaning behind the land. In other words, the land was full of their history and culture, which was why it was so important. Wed, 16 Sep 2020 11:24:13 -1000